Blythe, John Law, 1829-1893

File — Box: 5, Folder: 6

Identifier: III

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Journal, January 1, 1867-July 24, 1869. In this Journal Blythe records the Sanpete and Piede Indian Expedition. It begins April 20, 1867.

April 22, 1867: Traveled as far as Crismon Mill. Captain Orson Miles in charge of company. Traveled to American Fork, Payson, Salt Creek, Gunnison, Chicken Creek.
April 27, 1867: Arrived at Fort Gunnison. Houses are covered with mud roofs. Lieutenant General Wells, Major General Burton, and Brigadier General Pace, Colonel George W. Bean, and Orson P. Miles in command. Headquarters set up at Fort Gunnison with groups going to other settlements to check--Provo, Richfield, and Manti.
May 8, 1867: Blythe with six men detailed to Manti to get feed for the animals. "Manti is a fine thriving settlement, with many good stone buildings. There is a stone wall some twelve feet high ... a good two-story stone school house...."
May 9, 1867: The settlers traded milk, eggs, and butter for tea and coffee.
May 11, 1897: General Pace and Lieutenant General Wells returned after having visited every settlement in Sanpete County and adjacent settlements.
May 13, 1867: Word received of four horses stolen by Indians at Manti. A detail of ten men sent out.
May 25, 1867: Sent to Manti to accompany a wounded soldier, he wrote, "They use a public corral to protect the stock from the Indians. There is a herd of some 900 head of horses and mules and horned stock taken out every morning to feed and brought back at night. Fourteen mounted men accompany the herd to herd and guard the stock. Each man receives one bushel and a half of wheat per day for his services...."
May 29, 1867: Manti had about 1,400 inhabitants.
June 2, 1867: Orson Hyde spoke in Manti on the principal of plurality. "He had been told some of the sisters were opposed to plurality...cautioned all to be careful how they tampered with the law of Celestial Marriage...." Reported an attack by Indians in which Major Vance and Sargeant "Hourze" were killed.
June 6, 1867: Blythe started home with a wounded soldier and an escort of troops.
June 10, 1867: Arrived in Salt Lake City.
June 17, 1867: Made arrangements to return to Fort Gunnison with supplies. (This part of the diary ends here.)
April 9, 1869: Diary resumes.
June 2, 1869: Margaret Blythe, with 250 dollars, three men's vests and two pounds of confectionery, left for the East to visit her children.
July 19, 1869: "Margaret McKie came to live with us, expressing a desire to settle down and go into a family."
July 24, 1869: Blythe and Margaret "McKie" discussed celestial marriage. She expressed a desire to enter into the law and order with him.

Autobiographical and genealogical information on John L. Blythe and Margaret Mitchell Blythe, much of which appeared in the preceding journals, on pages 57-75. Journal for 1870. Blythe writes an autobiography of himself and lists the five children born to him and Margaret Mitchell Blythe. He records entries made in earlier journals including his baptism by George Q. Cannon, his ordination as elder, etc. There are few journal entries for this period. Copied from Andrew Jenson's Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia (Salt Lake City, 1901-1936) is an account of John L. Blythe's mission to Arizona in 1873. The men were sent to examine the possibility of establishing settlements in Arizona. When most of them became discouraged by what they saw and returned to Utah, Blythe stayed on at MoenKopi determined to fill his mission. He was appointed to build a ferry on the Colorado River. He was appointed president and acting bishop of the Arizona mission until Indian difficulties forced him to leave. Also included in this volume is an article titled Deseret News, July 1, 1874, which relates the incident of the killing of three Navajo Indians. The Navajos held the Mormons responsible for the deaths and made "unjust demands" in retaliation.

Dates

1857-1986

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.